Chapter 757

"You're truly a natural beauty, Nance. You look good in anything," Marie said as she pulled me in a circle. After adjusting my outfit, she beamed at me. "But what I meant earlier wasn't just friendship. Zane has plenty of friends, but only a few are like family. Nance, would you like to be one of our own?" I looked into her expectant eyes, momentarily speechless. I genuinely liked Marie. Her gentle demeanor, her silent concern, and her nurturing nature made me wish I could have a mother like her. But she couldn't be my mother, and we could never have a mother-daughter relationship. When she asked me if I wanted to be part of their family, I found myself unable to answer. I understood what being "one of their own" meant. Since we couldn't be mother and daughter, she was suggesting an in-law relationship. Zane was a wonderful person—innocent-hearted and endearing—but I could only view him as a younger brother or a good friend. The air in the changing room grew quiet and slowly becam